Wheel welding machine and method



June 26, 1951 M- lM 5C|AKY 2,558,005

WHEEL- WELDING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 13, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 N K up Mk I? n INVENTOR. Vaf BY M. M. SCIAKY WHEEL WELDING MACHINE AND METHOD June 26, 1951- 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 13, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 v 1 .f w. h. Il

M. M. SCIAKY WHEEL WELDING MACHINE AND METHOD June 26, 1951 Flled Aug 15 1947 June 26, 1951l M. M sClAKY 2,558,005

WHEEL WELDING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 13, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 lll/111111111111,

ZIE IN VEN/TOR. y l {yema/Ma@ @J4 /m, @EW/TED .I une 26, 1951 M. M. sclAKY 2,558,005

WHEEL WELDING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 13,V 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented June 26, 1951 WHEEL WELDING MACHINE AND METHOD Mario M. Sciaky, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Welding Research, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 13, 1947, Serial No. 768,414

14 Claims.

This invention relates to Welding machines and Welding methods, and concerns particularly machines and methods for effecting the welding of the metal parts of wheels for automotive vehicles and the like.

In the manufacture of various fabricated articles, wherein the parts thereof may be secured by Welding, more expensive and time-consuming means is frequently employed for securing the parts together because of welding uncertainties, and more particularly because of the possibility` that an improper welding operation might be effected, with resulting hazard and danger in the use of the finished article. For example, in the case of wheel structures for automotive vehicles and the like, it is the common practice to secure the rim to the wheel flange or body portion by rivets, although the riveting operations are costly and time-consuming, because of the difiiculties' in effecting the satisfactory welding of this type of article, and because of the possibilities that imperfections may result in the Welding, with the incident danger in the use of the finished article.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a Welding apparatus of improved construction and improved operating characteristics, and to provide improved welding methods effected thereby.

More specifically stated, it is an object of the invention to provide improved welding apparatus and methods wherein the quality of the weld is insured, wherein there is an insured margin of safety in the welded connection, and wherein the connection is tested for requisite strength and quality as an incident to the welding operations.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus and methods for eecting the welding of wheel structures of the type used for automotive vehicles and the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved automatically operable welding apparatus and methods, of the type more particularly pointed out hereinafter, for effecting the sequential and automatic welding of metal Wheel structures, and wherein the quality of the welded connection is automatically tested as an incident to the automatic welding operations.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention Will be apparent from the following specification, When taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein certain preferred embodiments are set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is a front View, with certain parts broken away for clarity, of a welding apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the invention, in accordance with one preferred embodiment thereof;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View through the machine of Fig. l, taken as indicated by the line 2 2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of certain of the conveyor structures forming a part of the machine, the view being taken as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged partial transverse section through the machine, cn the line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the slide structure for the holding clamp shown in Fig. 5, taken as indicated by the line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are sequential illustrative views, on the scale of Fig. 4, showing certain steps in the sequence of operation of the machine;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view of the plunger structures, and associated parts, for gripping the wheel flange or body, the view being taken as indicated by the line IU-l of Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 is a detail View showing one of the welded connections;

Fig. 12 is an illustrative view showing the method of operation of the machine;

Fig. 13 is a detail view of the wheel indexing mechanism, forming a part of the machine;

Fig. 14 is a top View of the structures shown in Fig. 13, and taken as indicated by the line lli- I4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged detail section through one of the welding heads, taken as indicated by the line E--IS of Fig. 2;

Fig. 16 is an electric wiring and fiuid flow diagram for the machine; and

Figs. 17 and 18 illustrate certain structures incorporated in a modied embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings the invention has been illustrated as applied to a machine for effecting the automatic welding of wheel structures of the automotive type, the invention in certain of its aspects having particular reference thereto. It is to be understood, however, that various aspects of the invention may be used in connection with the welding of various types of articles and structures, as will be apparent hereinafter.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, and rst to the structures illustrated in Figs. 1-15, in Fig. 1 an automatic machine for wheel welding is illustrated comprising, in general, a housing Il! within which the various welding auxiliaries such as transformers and the like may be mounted; a conveyor structure l2 by which the wheels or articles to be welded are transferred to and withdrawn from the machine; a plurality of welding heads I4, there being eight such heads provided in the particular embodiment disclosed; and a series of clamp devices I6 forming a part of and cooperable with certain testing apparatus incorporated in the machine and subsequently to be described.

Prior to delivery to the present machine, the wheel flange or body I8, Fig. 4, has been presstted into the rim 20, the present machine being provided tor welding the-body flange and rim together into a structurally soundintegral unit.

The conveyor structures by which the wheels are delivered to the machine, for welding, are best shown in Fig. 3. The wheels are delivered to and pass downwardly along the inclined conveyor l2 by gravity, under control of a plurality of release or feeding devices. prises a pair of pins 22 and 24, pivotally interconnected by a lever arm 26, the arrangement being such that as one pin is projectedA into wheel stopping position the other is withdrawn. The pins are arranged to be operated by a plurality of simultaneously actuated operators, each of which comprises an air cylinder 28 and piston 3, interconnected with a common source of air pressure supply 32. As compressed air is supplied to the cylinders 28 the several pins 22 are simultaneously projected into wheel stopping position, and the pins 24 simultaneously withdrawn. As the air is released from the cylinders pins 24 are projected and pins 22 are withdrawn by the action of retraction springs 34. By this means the wheels are fed along the conveyor, in step by step fashion, under individual control. The compressed air supply is controlled from a valve structure, later to be described, which is in turn actuated by a control circuit including a limit switch 36, Fig. l, actuated by a wheel as it leaves the machine, after welding. In thisway the removal of each welded article from the machine automatically actuates the conveyor so as to transmit a new article or wheel to be welded to the machine. The electrical and fluid control circuits for the Various control valves of the machine will be subsequently described in reference to Fig. 16.

As the wheel is released from the nal control pin 22 it rolls to a position as indicated at 38, Fig. 3, wherein the wheel rim 2li rests conjointly upon a. pairof spaced rollers 49 and 42. Roller 42 is an idle roll and is carried on the end of an arm 44 pivotally mounted upon a frame bracket 46 and arranged for actuation by a cylinder and piston structure 4l. Roller 40 is a powered roll, and is arranged to be continuously rotated to effect the rotation of the wheel 41 resting thereon, at selected intervals, by means of a pulley 48 powered from an electric drive motor 5U. As the wheel becomes positioned upon the rolls 40 and 42, it moves adjacent a pair of upstanding frame bars 52, Fig. 1, provided with anti-friction wheel engaging rolls 54. One of the bars carries a limit switch 56, the arrangement being such Vthat as the wheel moves to supported position upon the rolls, the limit switch is actuated.

The limit switch 56 forms a part of the con- Each of these devices comtrols for the conveyor actuators 28, as will be subsequently described. Actuation of limit switch 56 also causes the introduction of compressed air from a low pressure source of supply 53 into a pusher cylinder 56, Fig. 2, having therein an `air actuated piston 52. The piston 52 is secured to the end of a piston rod 54 which extends through aV cylinder and piston structure 66, later to be described, and carries at its end a pusher member 6,8, the details of which are best illustrated in Fig. 10. More particularly, it `will be seen that this pusher member is carried upon the end of the piston rod by means of an anti-friction bearing 'i6 so Ias to be freely rotatable thereon.

As the piston l62 is projected forwardly or to the left it advances from its normally retracted position, yas shown in Fig. 2, to an advanced po sition, as illustrated in Fig. 7, wherein the pusher head is brought into engagement with the wheel flange l 8 of the wheel positioned upon the rollers 40 and 42. The wheel is caused to rotate, at this time, due to its resting engagement upon the rotatable roll 453, the anti-friction bearing 7U and the frame rolls 54, Fig. 1, permitting free wheel rotation.

As the piston rod 64 reaches its Fig. '7 position, in engagement with the wheel flange, a collar ll carried thereby is arranged to actuate a limit switch 12, Fig. 2, carrying two sets of contacts alternately operated upon each advance of the piston rod. The contacts operated by the piston rod advance, just described, cause the introduction of compressed air from a low pressure supply 'l4 into a feeding pusher cylinder 16 having therein an air actuated piston 18. This piston is secured to a piston rod .85, the for-ward end of :which carries a `wheel engaging facel plate 82, the details of which are best shown in Fig. 10.

Referring to Fig. lo, it will be seenV that the face plate 82 is provided with a relatively shorter projection 84 engageable into the central or hub opening 86, Fig. 3, of the wheel flange, and a plurality of relatively longer inger pins :88 positioned in accordance with the. spacing of the wheel ang-e bolt holes Se, each finger carrying an antifriction ball` 92- at its end.

As air pressure is applied to the piston 18, the face plate Si is shifted forwardly, or to the right from its normally retracted position, as shown in Fig. 2, to :a position as shown in Fig. 7, wherein the anti-friction balls 92 are brought into engagement with the wheel flange I8; so that as the wheel is rotatably driven by theroll 40, the iingers 88 willv ultimately become. aligned `with the 'wheel bolt Aholes 95 and be caused to interlock therewith, in the manner indicated in Fig. 10. The face plate l8EA is locked yagainst rotation, by means subsequently to be described, so that upon the effecting of such interlocking engagement, further rotation of the wheel is arrested, the roll `4Q merely rotating idly thereunder. rhe relative sizes of the pistons 62 Iand T8 of the pushers 60 and 16, respectively, are such that when the cylinder 76 is interconnected with the low pressure source 14, as described, the force exerted by piston 62 is somewhat greater than that exerted by piston 7,8, so that the wheel is retained against axial movement away from the frame rolls 54.

The piston rod 80 of the feeding pusher 76 carries a collar which, as the fingers 88 drop into interlocking position, is arranged to actuate a limit switch 92, Fig. 2, this limit switch being of a type So that it is actuated only upon a rightward or forward movement of the piston rod 80.

.|04 of the cylinder 96.

-machine cycle, will be presently gAs will more particularly appear hereinafter when the control circuit is described, operation of limit switch 62 causes introduction of compressed air into the feeding pusher cylinder T6 from a relatively higher source of compressed air supply 94, whereupon the pressure exerted by piston 78 is somewhat greater than that exerted by piston 62, so that the wheel, clamped between the pusher head 68 and the face plate 82, is caused to move to the right from the position of Fig. 7 into a welding position, as illustrated in Fig. 8, wherein the wheel is brought into juxtaposition to the welding heads |4 and the clamping devices I6, previously mentioned.

Each welding head, as is best shown in Figs. 2 and 15, comprises a cylinder 98 having a piston 88 mounted therein. The piston 98 is connected to one of the welding jaws arranged to carry a welding electrode |0|, Whereas the cooperative welding electrode |02 is carried by an extension It will be seen that as fluid pressure is introduced into the cylinder from a suitable source of fiuid pressure supply as indicated at |06, the welding electrodes will be brought into clamping engagement with the work parts to be welded, as shown in Fig. 11.V As will be understood, the welding electrodes are connected with a suitable welding transformer |88, Fig. 2, for the application of the welding current.

The cylinder 96 of each welding head is floatingly mounted so that the clamped positioning of the electrodes may correspond to irregularities in the work piece. To this end each cylinder y86 is carried by a slide member Hi), Fig. 15,

mounted in frameways H2, the slide member having a detent portion H4 disposed between a pair of frame carried compression springs H6 and H8, Fig. 2. As the welding electrodes are brought into clamping engagement with the work parts it will be seen that the springs H6 and I8 may yield slightly, in one direction or the other, so as to conform the positioning of the electrodes to work piece surface irregularities.

The clamping devices |6 are best shown in Figs. 4, and 6. Each clamping device comprises .a clamp member |28 arranged for longitudinal reciprocation within frame slideways |22, the

Yclamp member being actuated by means of a .into the operating cylinders, the several clamp members |20, there being four such members in the particular embodiment disclosed, will be projected as illustrated in Fig. 4, so as to interlock with an upstanding flange portion |28 of the wheel rim.

rThe timed functioning of the welding heads |4, and of the clamp structures |6,.in the automatic described in reference to the control circuit. v

Means is provided for indexing the face plate 82, in connection with the welding operations,

such means being best illustrated in Figs.v 2, y13 A and 14. More particularly, the end of the lpiston rod 80 is arranged to project through the end of the cylinder 16, and is suitably splined as indicated at |30 for splined connection with a cap member |3| to which is fixed a laterally projectlmeans the arm 32 is journalled for rotation in respect to the cylinder 16, and is spline connected to the piston rod so that the piston rod and arm are constrained for rotation as a unit, but the piston rod is permitted to shift longitudi nally in respect to the journalled arm.

The means for operating the arm, to thereby eifect the rotatable indexing of the piston rod and its associated face plate 82, comprises a hydraulic actuator |38, consisting of a cylinder and piston construction and connected toV a source of liquid pressure supply as indicated at |40. The range of movement of the arm |32 is limited by a pair of stops |42 and |44 carried by the cylinder. The introduction of pressure uid .into the cylinder |38 raises the arm |32 into its dotted line position, as indicated in Fig. 13. A compression spring |46 within the cylinder normally holds the arm in its lowered full line posivtion as indicated.

Means is also approvided for applying a testing pressure to the welds, in connection with the welding operations, by applying an axial thrust of desired magnitude to the wheel flange |8 and relative to the wheel rim 20 while the latter is clamped in position against movement. This testing apparatus comprises a testing plunger head |48, Fig. 2, the detailed shaping of which is best shown in Fig. 10. It will be seen that the ,plunger head is provided with an annular recess |50, so as not to interfere with the action of the nger pins 88. The plunger head is preferably universally connected by means of a bolted flange platev |52 to the rounded end of a plunger shaft Y| 54 through which the piston rod 64, previously mentioned, axially extends. The end of the shaft |54 is disposed within the cylinder B6, the shaft being provided with a pair of adjustable collars |56 and |58 between which there is operable a plunger piston |60. Upon the introduction of pressure liquid from a supply source |82 into the cylinder 66, the piston |60, which is normally held in its retracted position as shown in Fig. 2 by means of a compression spring |64, will be advanced to the left into engagement with the collar |58, to thereby impart a predetermined impact and pressure to the plunger head |48, depending upon the pressure of the fluid and its rate of introduction into the cylinder. As will be later more particularly pointed out, if the welds have been properly formed no movement of V.the plunger head |48 will occur as the result of the testing pressure. If the welds have been imperfectly formed and movement occurs, a colvllar on shaft |54 effects the actuation of a limit Switch |66, Fig. 2, which inhibits further operation of the machine, as will later more clearly vappear.

control of a timer |88, Fig. 15, this timer in turn being controlled by a limit switch lll), Fig. 2, actuated by the collar 'H on the piston rod 64.

The limit switch |10 is so constituted that each alternate engagement of the collar 'H therewith v.effects the closing of its contacts to initiate operation of the timer.

Operation The operation of the machine will be best understood by reference to the control diagram, Fig. 16, Referring, for example, to the conveyor -actuators 28, it will be seen that the air pressure 5 :supply'line` 32 forthese actuators is controlled by 7 a valve |12 which conveniently may be a twoposition three-way valve so arranged that in one valve position the conduit 32 is interconnected with a source of air pressure supply, whereas in the other valve position the air pressure supply is cut off and the line 32 vented to atmosphere. An operating solenoid |14 moves the valve to its pressure supply position, whereas a cooperative solenoid |15 shifts the valve to its venting position.

The compressed air supply comprises a supply reservoir 416, Fig. 16, supplied with compressed air from a compressor |18. The reservoir |16 is provided with two outlet conduits |80 and |82 associated, respectively,` with a lower` pressure reducing valve |84 and a higher pressure reducing valve |86, the supply conduit |80 thereby constituting a source of lower air pressure supply, and the conduit |82 constituting a sourceof higher air pressure supply for the Various air actuators associated therewith,

Similar three-way valves, and operating pressure and venting electromagnets are associated with each of the other air actuators, the control valve for the ejecting pusher actuator 60 being indicated at 10A, and the control valve for the ejector actuator 41 being indicated at |06, in Fig. 16. As previously indicated, the feeding pusher actuator 16 is connected for both high and low air pressure actuation, the control valve for interconnecting the conduit 14 with the lower pressure supply line |80 being indicated at |98, and the control valve for interconnecting the supply line 94 with the high pressure air supply conduit |82 being indicated at 200. Each of these several three-way valves, as has been stated, is controlled by a pressure introducing electromagnet anda restoring or venting electromagnet, as indicated.

Referring further to Fig. 16, an oil reservoir is indicated at 202 from which oil is delivered lby means of a continuously operating pump 204 into a supply line 285. A return line 208 controlled by a relief valve e is provided for maintaining a predetermined pressure in the supply line 206 during pump operation. The supply line |40 Vfor the indexing cylinder E38 is controlled by means of a three-way valve Zig arranged for actuation by a pressure introducing coil or electromagnet 2|@ and a restoring or drain electromagnet 2|6, the arrangement being such that when the operating coil 2id is energized the Valve is shifted to interconnect the conduit |42 with the pressure supply line 206, whereas when the restoring coil 2 it is energized the valve is shifted to `interconnect the conduit |40 with a drain line 2|8 returning to the reservoir so as to relieve fluid pressure within the actuator. Similarly a three-way valve 220 is provided for interconnecting the supply conduit !62 of the testing actuator 66 alternatively either` with the pressure supply or with the drain line upon the operation, respectively, of a pressure introducingl coil 222 or a restoring or drain coil 22e. Similar three-way valves |90and i532 are provid-ed respectively for the clamp actuators E26 and the welding head actuators 96.

As previously pointed out, each new cycle of machine operation is initiated upon the actuation of limit switch by a previously properly welded wheel as it leaves the machine. As shown in Fig. I6, the operation of this limit switch effects the energization` of venting coil |15 of the conveyor control valve i12', by interconnecting the electromagnet between the electric control circuit supply linessLi. and L2. Thispermits springs 34 toact 'aandoet lcausing the wheels to be moved one step along the conveyor |2. As the end wheel on the conveyor drops into position upon the support rollers 40 and 42 limit switch 56 is actuated. As shown in Fig'. 16, this limit switch energizes the pressure coil |14' for the conveyor control Valve |12, to recondition the conveyor actuators, and also effects the energization of the pressure coil 226 of the control valve |94 for the pusher cylinder 60, whereby to effect the forward movement of pusher head 68 as previously described.

This forward movement of the pusher head 68 operates the first set of contacts 12a within limit switch 12 which energizes the pressure coil 228 ofthe control valve |98 for introducing low pressure air into the feeding pusher cylindel` 16. The rotatable positioning of the wheel and the interlocking of the fingers 88 with the bolt holes thereof thereupon takes placeA as previously described.

As the finger pins 38 move into interlocking position limit switch 92 is actuated, also as heretofore previously mentioned, whereupon energization of the pressure coil 230 of the high pressure air control valve 200 is effected. Thereupon vhigh pressure air is introduced into the feeding cylinder 16 causing the wheel to be shifted to its Fig.,8 position as previously described.

As the wheel is moved to its Fig. 8 position, limit switch |10 is actuated so as to energize timer motor 232, Fig. 16, causing operation of the timer |68. This timer may be of any suitable construction, so constituted as to effect, when energized, a single cycle of operation and the sequential energization of a set of contacts therein. Energization of the first Contact 234 of the timer effects the operation of pressure coil 236 of the welding head control Valve |92 whereby to move the welding jaws into clamping engagement with the work piece, as shown in Figs. 9 and 11. Energizati'on of the second timer contact 238 applies current to the welding transformer |08 to thereby effect the making of eight spot welds between the wheel flange i8 and the `rim 2t, by the eight circumferentiallyarranged welding heads, as diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 12.l

Energization of the next timer contact 2'40 effects the energization of the venting electromagnet 242 for the welding head control valve |02', thus retracting the welding electrodes from engagementv with the work piece through the action of welding cylinder compression springs 243, Fig. 2.

Energization of the next timer contact 244 energizes th-e pressure electromagnet 2 i4 of the control valve 2 2 for the indexing cylinder |38, causing the arm |32, Fig. 13, to move upwardly from its full` line to its dotted line position, whereby to effect the angular indexing of the wheel through apredeterminedl angular distance, approximately 12 in the particular embodiment disclosed.

The energization of the next timer contact 246 energizes pressure solenoid 2130 of the clamp actuator control valve |90, causing the clamps |20 to move into clamping position, as shown in Fig. 5.

Energization of the next timer Contact 253 effects the actuation of the venting solenoid 52 of the control; valve |08 for the low pressure supply to the feeding pusher cylinder 16; and simultaneously also effects the actuation of the venting solenoid 254 for the high pressure control valve 200, whereupon all pressure is relieved from the cylinder 'i8 causing it to be restored to retracted position by a cylinder contained compression spring 256, Fig. 2.

Operation of the next timer contact 258 effects the energization of the pressure coil 222 of the control valve 220 for the tester cylinder 55, thus applying hydraulic pressure to the piston |68, Fig. 2, causing it to move to the left against the action of compression spring U54 so as to impart a predetermined impact and pressure to the testing head Hi8. If the previously effected welds have been properly made no movement of the head |48 results. Ir the welds are improper or inadequate, the wheel iiange IS will be pushed to the left, in one manner or another, in respect to the clamped wheel rim I8, causing actuation of limit switch |65. As shown in Fig. 16, this limit switch is arranged in the energizing control circuit so that upon actuation it will deenergize the entire machine, including the timer, whereupon further machine operation ceases. The limit switch may be lay-passed by a manually actuated control switch E', Fig. 16, so that conu tinued operation of the machine may be eiected under manual control, after the defective part has been noted. In this connection each of the several control valves is provided with a manual control handle 262 so that the machine can be manipulated manually in any selected manner, as desired, to eiiect the removal of a defective work part, a disabling of the pressure supply to the testing cylinder 65, retraction of the clamps, or any other selected individual operation.

Assuming that the work piece is not defective, the actuation of the next timer contact 264 energizes the venting or return coil 224 of the tester control valve 228, whereby to relievev the hym draulic pressure from the tester cylinder |56.

Energization of the next timer contact 263B energizes the pressure coil 235i of the high pressure control valve 29E! for the feeding actuator it, whereupon the pusher face plate 82 returns into engagement with the wheel.

Energization oi' the next timer contact 268 causes energization of the venting coil 2l|l of the clamp actuator control valve |99, whereupon the clamps are retracted by actuator contained compression springs 2!2, Fig. 5.

Energization of the next timer contact 23411 again advances the welders, and energizati'on of the next timer contact 238s eiTects a second welding operation, as in the case of the contacts 234 and 23S, previously described. be seen that a second welding operation is effected upon the work piece, of a magnitude the same as the rst operation, but with the second set of spot welds circumferentially spaced in respect to the nrst set. Energization of the next timer contact which is interconnected with the contact 243, retracts the Welders.

Energization of the next timer contact 24 energizes the return or the vent coil 2| of the index cylinder control valve 2|2, permitting the spring N, Fig. 13, normal position.

Energization of the final timer contact 276 reenergizes the vent coil 254 of the high pressure control valve 2&8 for the feeding pusher actuator 'l5 whereupon this actuator is restored to home position and permitting the pusher head |58 to return the completely welded wheel to initial position as shown in Fig. 2. As the wheel reaches such position the limit switch l2 is again actuated causing the `ing ci its contacts 12b. These contacts energize the pressure solenoid 21S of the control valve l for the wheel ejector actuator 41, causing the movement oi ejector It will thus to restore the index arm to 10 arm 44, Fig. 3, from its full to its dotted line position, so as to eject the wheel onto the lower part of the conveyor |2 and away from the machine. Simultaneously the closing of contacts 12b energizes the venting coil 288 of the control valve |94 for the pusher cylinder 68 causing the pusher head 63 to be retracted to normal position, as shown in Fig. 2, by the action or a cylinder contained compression spring 282. As the welded wheel rolls down the conveyor, the resulting operation of the limit switch 36 not only initiates a new cycle of machine operation, as described, but also eiects the energization of the venting coil 284 for the ejector cylinder control valve |36 permitting a compression spring 28s, Fig. 3, to act to restore the ejector arm 44 to normal position.

It will be seen that in accordance with the machine and method described, one set of welding operations is eiected, the welds produced are then tested, and thereafter a second welding operation is eiected of an equal magnitude with the first. Preferably the testing pressures applied by the testing head |48 are of a magnitude equal to required service conditions. For example, in one representative automobile wheel the wheel ilange and rim are secured together by four sets of three rivets, each rivet having a shear strength of twenty-ve hundred pounds; giving a combined shear strength of thirty thousand pounds total. In accordance with the present invention, in the operation upon such a wheel a pressure magnitude of thirty thousand pounds would be applied to the testing head |48, so as to equal required service conditions. This testing operation thus insures the required quality of the product; and when coupled with the subsequent or second welding operation, also provided in accordance with the present invention, gives double assurance and a margin of safety rendering it impossible that an imperfectly or inadequately welded wheel may pass through the machine un detected. The welding operations are conducted sequentially and automatically, the machine requiring no addition except upon stopping in the event of an imperfect or inadequate weld.

In certain instances it may be desired to apply a torsional testing force to the wheels, in addition to the axial and impact thrust imparted by the testing head |48. In such instance a clamp` structure as shown in Fig. 1'7 may be employed, in conjunction with the action of an additional limit switch provided for the indexing arm |32 as shown in Fig. 18.

As shown in Fig. 17, the clamps |20a, corre- 294, but being arranged to be projected upon the Y actuation of a solenoid 296 into a position as indicated by dotted lines so as to be engaged by the index arm |32 in its movement between its two operative positions. By applying hydraulic pressure to the indexing cylinder |38 while the clamps are in position a rotational testing of the welded connection between the wheel rim and the wheel ilange may be thus effected. Thisv operation can be effected merely by a suitable arrangement of the contacts within the timerv |68. More particularly, in the cycle of operation, after the Welders have been retracted by contact 240, after the initial weld, the clamps may be advanced to clamping position as shown in Fig. 17, the solenoid 2'96 energized to render the limit switch. 292 operative, and hydraulic pressure then applied to the indexing cylinder |38. If the weld is defective and the indexing arm |32 moves, limit switch 292 will be actuated to stop the machine, this limit switch being arranged in the control circuit supply in series with the limit switch |66, so that operation of either limit switch deenergizes the machine. After Vthe testing operation, by sequentially arranged timer contacts, the hydraulic pressure within the indexing cylinder is relieved, and the clamps |'20a are retracted and the solenoid 296 deenergized. Thereafter the cycle of operation of the machine may be continued, as in the embodiment previously described, whereby both a torsional and an vimpact and axial testing is applied' to the 'first' Welded connections.

It will be noted that hydraulic pressure is employed to actu'ate the welding heads so that high mechanical pressures' as well as high current densities' may be used in eiecting the welds.

Preferably means is employed for applying cooling Water to the welds during the welding operations, to set the Welds promptly for testing and to prevent the warping of the wheel -by heat. Such means may comprise a series of water nozzles 300, Figs. 1 and 2, for each set of welding heads. The supply pipe 362 is controlled by a manually operated valve 3Q@ andr by an Iautomatic shut 'o'i' valve 395 larranged for operation by the shifting of one of the welding heads;v More particularly, as shown in Fig. 2, one weld,- ing head carries the valve 3% arrangedfor actuation by anY arm 368 `through a pin and slot connection, the arrangement being suchV that the valve is open Whenever the welding heads .are clamped onto the work; and provided .also that the manual shut 01T valve 353e has been previously opened. The outlet pipe 3 It from the valve 308 is connected to and supplies the several spray nozzles 30'0. If desired, the control valve 366 may be electromagnetically operated from the timer |68 so as tosupply thercooling water to the work 'for -a predetermined length of time after each welding operation.

Itis obviousthat various changes `may be made in the .specific embodiments set forth for purposes of illustration without departing from the spirit of therinvention. The invention' is accord-V ingly not to be limited to thev specific embodiw ments shown and described'butonly as indicated in the following claims.

The inventionis hereby claimed as follows: i

1. A welding machine comprising support means for a Work piecev having a portion to be' welded, a welding electrode, means for shifting the Work. piece and electrode relatively into contact, means for applying welding current tothe electrode to eifect the welding of the work piece, pressure means for applying force vto said workV piece portion tending to effect the separation of the weld, the movement Yof the pressure means beyond a predetermined 4position being blocked by the weld, and controlmeans for-the machine actuated by the movement of the pressurermeans beyond suchposition, whereby the control means is actuated upon theinsuiiiciency of the weld.

.2. A welding machine comprising support means for a work piece having a portion to be welded, a welding electrode, mea-ns for shifting the workpiece .and electrode relatively into, @Qntact, means for applying welding current to the electrode to effect the welding ofthe work piece, pressure means for applying force to SaidV work piece portion tending to effect the separation of the weld while the work piece is held by the support means, whereby to effect the testing of said Weld, and control means actuable only if the weld is sound for repeatedly effecting the sequential operation of the shifting means, a first actuation of the current applying means, the pressure means, and a second actuation of the current applying means in the order named.

3. A welding machine comprising support means for a work piece having a portion to be Welded, a welding electrode, means for shifting the Work piece and electrode relatively into contact axially of the electrode, means for applying. welding current to the electrode to eiect the Welding of the Work piece, pressure means op erable substantially perpendicular to the axis of the electrode for applying force to said work piece portion tending to eiiect the separation of the weld while the work piece is held by the Support means, whereby to ei'lect the testing of said Weld, and control means operable upon limitation of said pressure means by the weld for effecting the repeated actuation of the shifting means, the repeated actuation of the Welding current applying means, and the actuation of the pressure means in predetermined automatic sequence.

4. A Wheel welding machine for welding metal wheel rims to metal wheel bodies comprising support means for a Wheel to be Welded, a welding electrode, means for shifting the wheel and electrode relatively into contact, means for applying welding current to the electrode to effect the securing of the body and rim, and pressure means comprising a pair of members engageable respectively with the body and rim for applying force thereto tending to effect the separation of the weld whereby to effect the testing of said Weld.

5. A wheel welding machine for Welding metal wheel rims to metal wheel bodies comprising support means for a wheel to be welded, a spring biased welding electrode, iiuid actuated means for shifting the wheel and electrode relatively into contact, iiuid actuated means for applying welding current to the electrode to effect the securing of the body and rim, nuid actuated pressure means including at least some of said support means engageable respectively with the body and rim for applying force thereto tending to efect the separation of the weld whereby to effect the testing of said weld, and a common iiuid control circuit for said iiuid actuated means.

6. A Wheel welding machine for welding metal wheel rims to metal wheel bodies comprising support means for a wheel to be welded, a plurality of circumferentially disposed welding electrodes, means for Shifting said electrodes to bring them into contact with the Wheel rim at circumkferentially spaced points, means for applying Welding current to the electrodes to effect the securing of the body and rim, and pressure means comprising a pair of members including said support means engageable respectively withthe body and rim for applying force thereto tending to effect the separation of the welds whereby to eect the testing of said welds.

'7. A wheel welding machine for welding metal. Wheel rims to metal wheel bodies comprising sup-` port means for a wheel to be welded, a plurality of circumferentially disposed welding electrodes, means for shifting said electrodes to .bring .them

into contact with the wheel rim at circumferentially spaced points, means for applying welding current to the electrodes to effect the securing of the body and rim, a plurality of circumferentially disposed clamps, means for actuating the clamps into clamping engagement with the rim at circumferentially spaced points, and a plunger for imparting a pressure thrust to the body while said clamps are in operative position whereby to effect the testing of said welds.

8. The method of Welding which comprises mounting a work piece upon a welding support, eiecting a first welding operation upon the work piece, applying pressure to the work piece of a magnitude required of the weld to thereby test the Weld, and thereafter welding the work piece only if the rst weld is sound at a point displaced from therst weld, in the sequence named.

9. The method of welding metal wheel rims to metal wheel bodies which comprises mounting an assembled rim and body upon a welding support, eifecting a rst welding operation to secure the body and rim, applying pressure to the body and rim through the welding support in a direction tending to eiect the separation thereof and of a magnitude required of the weld to thereby test the weld, and thereafter again welding the body and rim together at the same location if the first weld is unsound, in the sequence named.

10. The method of welding metal wheel rims to metal wheel bodies which comprises mounting an assembled rim and body upon a welding support, effecting a first welding operation to secure the body and rim, applying pressure to the body and rim in a direction tending to effect the separation thereof and of a magnitude required of the weld to thereby test the weld, and thereafter welding the body and rim together only if the rst weld is sound at a point displaced from the i'lrst weld, in the sequence named.

11. A wheel welding machine for welding metal Wheel rims to metal wheel bodies comprising support means for a wheel to be welded, a plurality of circumferentially disposed welding electrodes, means for shifting said electrodes to bring them into contact with the wheel rim at circumferentially spaced points, means for applying welding current to the electrodes to eiect the securing of the body and rim, said electrodes being floatingly mounted to conform to irregularities in the contour of the work, and spring means for normally holding the electrodes in predetermined initial position.

iii)

12. A wheel welding machine for welding metal wheel rims to metal wheel bodies comprising support means for a wheel to be welded, a welding electrode, means for shifting the wheel and electrode relatively into contact, means for applying welding current to the electrode to eiTect the securing of the body and rim, and pressure means including said support means engageable respectively with the body and rim for applying relative axial force thereto tending to effect the separation of the weld whereby to effect the testing of said weld.

13. A wheel welding machine for welding metal wheel rims to metal wheel bodies comprising support means for a wheel to be welded, a welding electrode, means for shifting the wheel and electrode relatively into contact, means for applying welding current to the electrode to effect the securing of the body and rim, and pressure means including said support means rotated relatively while engaging with the body and rim for applying relative torsional force thereto tending to effect the separation of the weld whereby to effect the testing of said Weld.

14. A wheel welding machine for welding metal wheel rims to metal wheel bodies comprising support means for a wheel to be welded, a welding electrode, means for shifting the wheel and electrode relatively into contact, means for applying welding current to the electrode to effect the securing of the body and rim, and pressure means comprising a pair of members one of which comprises a universally mounted plunger engageable respectively with the body and rim for applying force thereto tending to effect the separation of the weld whereby to effect the testing of said weld.

MARIO M. SCIAKY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,635,536 Butler July 12, 1927 1,703,588 Meadowcraft Feb. 26, 1929 2,100,502 Campbell et al Nov. 30, 1937 2,268,815 Funk Jan. 6, 1942 2,316,597 Kershaw Apr. 13, 1943 2,341,133 Weightman Feb. 8, 1944 

